Bank-vault construction.



Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

. N m w A we y u I f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABSALOM DAVIS, 0F IMBODEN, ARKANSAS.

BANK-VAULT CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABsALoM DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Imboden, Lawrence county, and State of Arkansas, hiUe invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Bank-Vault Construction, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to the construction of vault doors 'or walls, especially the doors of bank vaults, express cars, etc., whereby they are provided with port holes practically invisible from the outside when will be h ereinafter'more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar referencecharacters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a sectional view through a vault door or wall, constructed in accordance with mysaid invention, and Fig. 2 a perspective view showing the separate parts of the port hole structure before being put into the door or wall.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the wall, B the port hole casing,

and C, C the two parts of the port hole closure.

It will be understood that the port hole may be provided in the door or wall of any vault designed for containing valuables, and particularly bank vaults. It is the custom, as is well understood, for the cashier, or the other officer of the bank being charged with the duty of paying out money, before the opening of the institution each mormng, to take the boxes or other receptacles in which the money for daily use is kept from the vault and arrange the money in the money drawers for his convenience in performing his work. The cage in which the cashier or teller is stationed is usually within convenient reaching distance of the vault in which the money and valuables are stored at the close of the day. In robbing banks, the robbers, as a rule, either drive the oflicer into the vault and close the door, or compel him to hold up his hands while they prosecute their work. It is usually possible, how- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 9, 1915.

. Application filed February 4, 1915. Serial No. 6,000.

ever, either for the paying oificer, or some other employee of the institution, to escape into the vault and close the door.

With a vault constructed in accordance with my said invention, anyone from the inside of the vault is able to open the port hole and, without detection by the robbers and by using firearms concealed-within the vault, shoot the robbers, save the institution from robbery, and protect the lives of the other officers or employees of the institution.

The invention consists in forming a conical port hole in the wall or door, the port hole being arranged with the small end outside and the large end inside the wall.

The outer end is made so small that it will not be readily detected when opened, and when filled with the closure will be practically invisible.

In the construction I form a casing B of steel and of the appropriate conical shape, which is built into the Wall, being secured by anchor arms 10 secured at intervals thereto around its outside. chor arms are embedded in the structure-of the door or wall and make said casing B practically a part thereof. The conical closure, preferably formed in two parts C and C is provided for the purpose of closing the port hole. The part C is adapted to fill the outer end of easing B and-.is connected thereto by a hinge 11, and is adapted to be held closed by a hasp 12 engaging a catch 14 on the edge of casing B, or by any other appropriate'means that may be preferred. Said hasp 12 is preferably fo'rmed with a handle 15 by which it may be operated and the part G of the closure swung back and forth on its hinge. The inner part 0 of the closure may be fitted to slide to position, or may be adapted to engage by screw-threads or any other means, with the casing B, but is formed so that its outer 'end is perfectly flush with the outer surface of the door or wall and is also formed of the same color and finish as'the color and finish of said outer surface so that These anof the parts C and C, so that when the part C is closed it will force the part C to its seat and with its point flush with the outer surface of the wall. With part C engaged with the Wall independently, any connection between part C and C Will, of course, be unnecessary.

The port hole, asbefore stated, is posi-' tioned in the Wall or door so as to bring the cash drawers within range, and, in use, any person within the vault may quickly open the port hole and, by using firearms concealed within the vault for the purpose, Will be able to protect not only the property of the bank but the lives of the other employees.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wall construction for vaults, etc., having a port hole therein of conical shape with the small end of the port hole outside and the large end inside, and a closure for said port hole adapted to fit snugly therein with its outer end flush with the outer surfaceof the wall and of corresponding finish, and provided with means for removing and replacing said closure in position, substantially as set forth.

' 2. A wall construction for vaults, etc., formed with a conical port-hole with its small end. in the outer face of said wall, a

casing for said port-hole anchored in said wall, a closure for said port-hole of corresponding form thereto, the inner end of said usaeee closure being adapted When in position to be flush with the outer face of the Wall, and

means for adjusting and securing said 010-.

sure, substantially as set forth.

3. A Wall construction for vaults, etc., embodying a conical port-hole formed through said Wall with its small end to the outside, a closure for said. port-hole comprising an inner part and an outer part with a space between them, and means for bringing the outer part to bear against the inner part whereby the securing of said outer part also secures said inner part, substantially as set forth.

4. A Wall construction for vaults, etc., embodying a conical port-hole, a closure for said port-hole formed in two parts the inner part of Which is adapted to fit in the small end of said port-hole and the outer part in the large end, a space being normally left between said two parts, and means for securing said closure in position, substantially as set forth.

In Witnessvvhereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Imboden, Arkansas 7 this 1st day of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and fifteen.

' ABSALOM DAVIS.

Witnesses:

J. L. POLK, R. RAIMoN'rE. 

